Niner Noise
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NFL power rankings: 49ers stay even, Patriots fall entering Week 3

By Peter Panacy

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waves to the crowd after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waves to the crowd after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

48. . W, 27-21 vs. Eagles. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 21. team

Wait, how the heck are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-0 this season already? They were supposed to stink, especially with quarterback Jameis Winston suspended the first three games of 2018.

Well, it helps to have Winston’s backup, Ryan Fitzpatrick, playing like he did back in 2015.

Fitzpatrick and Co. dropped 48 points on the road against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Then they edged the Super Bowl-champion Eagles 27-21 in Week 2. All Fitzpatrick did was toss for 401 yards, four more touchdowns against an interception and post a passer rating of 144.4.

If 2018 ended now, Fitzpatrick would be in the discussion for league MVP.

But it doesn’t, and it’s way too soon to assume the Bucs are real this season and Fitzpatrick is the far-better option than Winston.

Still, Tampa Bay’s start has been as good as it possibly could be — defeating two Super Bowl contenders in consecutive weeks. And Fitzpatrick’s postgame swag was pretty impressive too.